Our Marlborough Travel Guide will give you a good overview of the region. If you’re looking for posts about a particular area click on one of these links: Picton | Marlborough Sounds | Blenheim The top of the South Island’s eastern half mostly consists of a series of flooded valleys known as the Marlborough Sounds. … Read more
The road between Christchurch and Picton is mostly inland from the coast, meaning there aren’t as many beaches and walks to do (and the ones that are there are often a fair distance from the main road). Despite not being the most exciting South Island drive there’s still heaps to see, including Kaikoura and the … Read more
The drive from Nelson to Picton takes in some of the best scenery the top of the South Island has to offer, including beautiful views of the Marlborough Sounds, a lovely riverside walk and heaps more. It only takes two hours to drive, but I’ll let you know the best detours and places to stop … Read more
The main road between Blenheim and Picton is about as nondescript as roads in the South Island get — perfect if you’re in a hurry to catch a ferry! If you’ve got a little longer and would rather travel the scenic route the journey via Port Underwood is a great option. You’ll get to see … Read more
Picton is the town you’ll arrive at (or leave from) when travelling by ferry between New Zealand’s North and South Islands, but there is far more to it than that. It’s the main town in the Marlborough Sounds and is home to some incredible short hikes. Looking for the best things to do in Picton? … Read more
If you’re travelling between New Zealand’s North and South Islands you have two options: fly or catch a ferry. You’ll obviously want to go opt for the ferry if you have your own transport, and that’s exactly what we did on our recent North Island trip. We travelled from Picton to Wellington on the Interislander, … Read more
If you’re only in Picton for a short time — maybe you’re on a cruise ship or waiting for the ferry to Wellington — the short walk to Shelley Beach and Bob’s Bay is a good way to kill a couple of hours. From Bob’s Bay you can continue on to the Snout Track for … Read more
Last year we had a calendar on our wall featuring scenic New Zealand spots. The month of December was dedicated to Governors Bay in the Marlborough Sounds. After looking at a photo of it every day for a month we knew we had to go there. Luckily it’s very easy to find — it’s a … Read more
One of the most spectacular drives in the Marlborough Sounds (and the whole of New Zealand) is the road to French Pass and Bulwer. Sweeping views of the sounds are the highlights, but there are also some nice little coves and beaches to stop at as well as some great short hikes. It takes around … Read more
If you’re looking for a cool place to visit in Picton that doesn’t involve too much walking, Karaka Point would be a great option. You get great views of Queen Charlotte Sound from the car park and the short walk through the bush takes you to a lovely little beach. It’s a little way out … Read more